Two thirds run into problems driving abroad

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said road death rates in many popular holiday destinations were "significantly higher" than in the UK, with alcohol often being a contributing factor. Britons were almost twice as likely to die on the road in Spain, almost three times as likely in Greece and more than twice as likely in the USA.

The FCO research also revealed that of the eight million Britons driving while on holiday abroad each year, many set off totally unprepared despite 66% having previously experienced problems such as an accident, getting lost or car crime.

Less than half (41%) of those who take their own car remember to take their driving licence and car registration documents and only a third carry details of their breakdown policy.

Only 37% of people checked the local driving laws of their destination before leaving the UK and nearly eight out of 10 (78%) people failed to carry telephone numbers for local emergency services, breakdown services and the local British Consulate.

No excuses

Pamela Deegan, vice-consul in Lille, France, said consular staff dealt with a range of driving-related incidents abroad every year.

"Around half of the hospitalisations and deaths we dealt with last year were related to road accidents," she said. "The majority of Britons driving from the UK to the continent drive through northern France and many of the accidents we deal with are caused by driver fatigue, drink-driving, speeding and driving on the wrong side of the road.

"We have also been called to assist in cases where drivers have run into trouble as a result of not being familiar with local driving laws."

She urged anyone planning to drive abroad this summer to prepare carefully before leaving the UK, and that country-specific travel advice on the FCO website - www.fco.gov.uk/travel - was a "good starting point."